Reversible belt and buckle



Nov. 19, 1968 H, MEEKER 3,411,161

REVERSIBLE BELT AND BUCKLE Filed May 15, 1967 l4 IO|5 fi Pi 1 1 w i H E 1 l INVENTOR. WILLIAM H. MEEKER M40 HIS ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,411,161 REVERSIBLE BELT AND BUCKLE William H. Meeker, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to Hickok Manufacturing Co., Inc., Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 15, 1967, Ser. No. 638,353 13 Claims. (Cl. 2-301) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A buckle for a reversible belt is formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced, slotted portions for receiving and holding the belt, and the slot-ted portions are connected by a longitudinal portion narrower than the belt. Such a buckle is retained loosely on one end of the belt by a ring encircling the connector portion. As the belt is reversed to display opposite faces outward, the ring is slid from one end of the connector portion to the other, and grooves are formed for seating the ring at each end of the connector portion. The ring and the connector portion can be sized so that the buckle can be turned within the ring. This allows either face of the buckle to be matched with either face of the belt for four possible combinations of belt surfaces and buckle surfaces.

This invention relates to a belt and buckle usable to display either of the face surfaces of the belt. Reversible belts are known generally in the prior art, but buckles for these belts have had various shortcomings.

The objects of this invention include without limitation:

a buckle that overcomes the disadvantages of prior art reversible belt buckles;

a reversible belt buckle that is attractive, simple, functional, rugged, durable, and easy to fasten and unfasten;

a buckle that does not require holes in a belt or mar the belt in use;

a buckle that can be reversed relative to a reversible belt to afford four possible combinations of buckle and belt surfaces outermost; and

a buckle and belt combining all the above features.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification which describes the invention, its use, operation, and preferred embodiments, from the drawings, which constitute a part of the disclosure, and from the subject matter claimed.

Generally, the inventive buckle extends longitudinally of the belt to which it is attached, and provides a pair of spaced, aligned, apertures through which a length of belt is threaded for retaining the belt in place. The apertured portions of the buckle are spaced apart by a connector portion that is narrower than the belt so as to be obscured when the belt is threaded through the buckle apertures. A ring smaller than the apertured portions encircles the connector portion and retains the buckle on one end of the belt. In one preferred embodiment, the central region of the connector portion is sized relative to the belt. Also, grooves formed in the connector portion of the buckle receive'the ring for sure engagement with the buckle at either end of the connector portion.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a front elevation of the inventive buckle with a fragment of the inventive belt threaded through and retained in the buckle;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inventive belt and buckle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan View of the inventive buckle with the belt reversed from the orientation of FIG. 2;

ice

FIG. 4 shows turning of the inventive buckle relative to its belt; and

FIG. 5 shows a front elevation of the inventive buckle and a fragment of its belt.

The drawings illustrate one preferred embodiment of the inventive belt and buckle, and this embodiment will be described in detail. However, other preferred embodiments fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subject matter claimed.

Belt 11 is shown buckled into buckle 10 in FIGS. 1-3. Belt 11 has opposite face surfaces 12 and 13 that are different in appearance, and buckle 10 can be reversed for displaying either faces 12 or 13 outermost. Since belt 11 and buckle 10 are symmetrical about both horizontal and vertical axes, belt 11 can be buckled into belt 10 from either direction by turning over the belt and buckle.

Buckle 10 is formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced portions 14 and 15 that are generally rectangular and are provided with respective belt receiving apertures 16 and 17. Apertures 16 and 17 are spaced longitudinally of belt 11 and extend transversely to approximately the width of belt 11. Apertures 16 and 17 are somewhat larger than the cross section of belt 11 and are mutually aligned so that the free end 18 of belt 11 can be threaded through each of the apertures 16 and 17 to be retained in place in buckle 10. No holes need be made in belt 11 to retain it in place in buckle 10, and buckle 10 does not mar belt 11 in use.

Rectangular end portions 14 and 15 are spaced apart and joined by connector portion 20 which normally extends longitudinally of belt 11 and buckle 10. Connector portion 20 is narrower than belt 11 so as to be obscured when the free end 18 of belt 11 is threaded through buckle 10 as shown in FIG. 1. Ring 21 encircles connector portion 20 and is free to slide longitudinally along connector portion 20 to secure buckle 10 to the buckle end 19 of belt 11. Ring 21 is smaller than end portions 14 and 15 so as to retain buckle 10 on belt end 19.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the two different retaining positions for buckle 10 relative ot ring 21. As shown in FIG. 2, ring 21 is near end 15 of buckle 10, and belt face 12 is disposed outward for the appearance illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, ring 21 is shifted to near the end 14 of buckle 10, and belt 11 is reversed to dispose face 13 outward. Faces 12 and 13 of belt 11 preferably differ in appearance for different costuming effects.

Ring 21 is generally rectangular as illustrated, and to facilitate its sure engagement with buckle 10 in each of the positions illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, grooves 22-25 are formed transversely across face surfaces of connector portion 20 adjacent end portions 14 and 15 to receive ring 21. As illustrated in FIG. 2, ring 21 is engaged in groove 25 in the upper face of buckle 10, and as shown in FIG. 3, ring 21 is engaged in groove 23 in the upper face of buckle 10. Grooves 22 and 24 in the opposite face of buckle 10 are engaged by ring 21 when buckle 10 is reversed as described below. The straight length of ring 21 engaged in grooves 22-25 for a considerable distance transversely of connector portion 20 serves to seat buckle 10 firmly in ring 21 and prevent twisting or turning of buckle 10 relative to ring 21 and belt 11.

Buckle 10 is preferably sized relative to ring 21 so that buckle 10 can be turned within ring 21 to dispose different buckle faces outward. This is best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Ring 21 is split along one longitudinal leg thereof to leave ends 26 and 27 adjacent an opening in ring 21. A clevis 30 is secured to belt end 19 by rivets 31 and wraps around belt end 19 to engage both opposite faces thereof. Ends 26 and 27 of ring 21 are retained within loop portions 32 of clevis 30 to secure ring 21 to belt end 19. Notch 33 is formed in clevis 30 between loop portions 32, and connector portion 20 of buckle is narrowed by opposed notches 34 in its central section. The width of connector portion between notches 34 is less than the maximum clearance between ring 21 and the bottom of notch 33 so that buckle 10 can be turned within ring 21 as best shown in FIG. 4.

By turning buckle 10 within ring 21, either face surface of buckle 10 can be disposed outward, and the opposite face surfaces of buckle 10 are preferably different in appearance for this purpose. Thus, the illustrated preferred embodiment of the inventive belt and buckle allows four possible outward appearances. For example, a dark face of belt 11 can be matched with either a light or a dark face of buckle 10, and a light face of belt 11 can be matched with either a dark or light face of buckle 10.

Grooves 22-25 are preferably formed on both face surfaces of connector portion 20 of buckle 10 as previously described to receive ring 21 in firm engagement with buckle 10 regardless of which face of buckle 10 is turned outward, and regardless of which end of buckle 10 is engaged by ring 21. For such reversibility, buckle 10 is preferably fiat as illustrated. Ring 21 and connector portion 20 with its grooves 22-25 are concealed by relatively wider belt 11 as shown in FIG. 1.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other successful embodiments of belts and buckles within the spirit of the invention can be achieved. For example, the belt engaging portions of buckle 10 need not be rectangular like end portions 14 and 15, and apertures 16 and 17 can be other than rectangular and still successfully retain belt 11 therein. The rectangular shape of ring 21 and its engagement with grooves 22-25 provides a relatively large area of contact between ring 21 and buckle 10, and serves to maintain buckle 10 flat and generally in the plane of belt 11 without twisting or turning. However, circular, oval, or other ring shapes can be used within the spirit of the invention. Also, ring seating grooves in the inventive buckle can be shaped to fit the ring selected or can be omitted entirely. Furthermore, connector portion 20 can be narrower throughout its length, or necked down in another manner, or can be made rod shaped or cylindrical within the spirit of the invention. Making connector portion 20 sufficiently narrow can eliminate the need for any notch in the clevis or other means that secures ring 21 to buckle end 19. Although clevis is preferred as a simple fastener to retain ring 21 on buckle end 19, a double clevis could be used, or ring 21 could be secured in a loop end of belt 11, or other means can be used to secure ring 21 to belt end 19. Also means other than rivets 31 can be used to fasten a clevis to belt end 19.

I claim:

1. A belt and buckle comprising:

(a) a buckle extending longitudinally of said belt;

(b) said buckle having longitudinally spaced portions each configured to define a belt receiving aperture, said apertures being in mutual alignment and extending transversely of said buckle to approximately the width of said belt for retaining a length of belt threaded through each of said apertures;

(c) said apertured portions of said buckle being joined by a connector portion extending longitudinally and centrally of said buckle, said connector portion being narrower than said belt throughout its length; and

(d) a ring secured to one end of said belt and encircling said connector portion, said ring being slidable longitudinally along said connector portion, and said ring being smaller than said apertured portions so as to be retained on said connector portion.

2. The belt and buckle of claim 1 wherein said connector portion is formed to define a groove at each end of said connector portion for receiving said ring.

3. The belt and buckle of claim 2 wherein said ring is generally rectangular and said grooves are formed as shallow transverse recesses in the face of said connector portion.

4. The belt and buckle of claim 1 wherein said buckle is generally fiat, said apertured portions are generally rectangular, and said apertures are generally rectangular and somewhat larger than a cross-section of said belt.

5. The belt and buckle of claim 1 wherein said connector portion is narrow enough relative to the opening within said ring so that said buckle can be turned inside said ring.

6. The belt and buckle of claim 5 wherein opposite face surfaces of said belt and said buckle each present different appearances. Y

7. The belt and buckle of claim 5 wherein said connector portion is formed to define grooves at each end of said connector portion for receiving said ring.

8. The belt and buckle of claim 7 wherein said ring is generally rectangular and said grooves are formed as shallow, transverse recesses in the face of said connector portion.

9. The belt and buckle of claim 8 wherein said buckle is generally flat, said apertured portions are generally rectangular and somewhat larger than a cross section of said belt, and said opposite face surfaces of said belt and said buckle each present different appearances.

10. The belt and buckle of claim 1 wherein said ring is generally rectangular and split centrally of one length thereof, clevis means secures said ring to said belt, said clevis means includes means for retaining ring portions adjacent said split, said clevis means is configured to form a notch between said retaining means, and the central portion of said connector portion is narrower than the maximum clearance between said ring and the bottom of said notch so that said buckle can 'be turned inside said ring.

11. The belt and buckle of claim 10 wherein opposite face surfaces of said belt and said buckle each present different appearances.

12. The belt and buckle of claim 11 wherein each face of said connector portion is recessed to form a pair of shallow, transverse grooves respectively disposed at opposite ends of said connector portion for receiving said ring.

13. The belt and buckle of claim 12 wherein said buckle is fiat, said apertured portions are generally rectangular, and said apertures are generaly rectangular and somewhat larger than the cross section of said belt.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,009,325 7/1935 Sachs 2-30l 2,686,920 8/1954 Meeker 2-301 3,026,533 3/1962 Zakarin 2301 534,380 2/1895 Smith 24-265 1,945,266 1/1934 Einsele 24206 DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner. 

